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21 articles

State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Hears Police Disability Benefits Appeal

The Illinois Supreme Court has accepted an appeal from the Chicago Police Retirement Board challenging an appellate court decision that would have required the board to award disability benefits to officer Donald B. Moreland. The case centers on whether the retirement board properly denied duty disability benefits despite the Chicago Police Department's determination that Moreland was disabled.

•Illinois Supreme Court accepted appeal from Chicago Police Retirement Board challenging appellate court ruling on disability benefits
•Case involves officer Donald Moreland whose disability benefits were initially denied but later ordered by appellate court
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Reverses Walgreens FACTA Class Action Certification

The Illinois Supreme Court reversed a lower court's decision certifying a nationwide class action against Walgreens over alleged violations of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. The case centers on claims that Walgreens printed too many digits of debit card numbers on customer receipts.

•Illinois Supreme Court reversed appellate court's affirmation of nationwide class certification against Walgreens
•Case involved alleged FACTA violations for printing excessive debit card digits on receipts
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Dismisses Grayson Pretrial Detention Appeal as Moot

The Illinois Supreme Court dismissed as moot an appeal regarding the pretrial detention of Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy, after he was convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey. The high court ruled the detention question became irrelevant following Grayson's trial and conviction.

•Illinois Supreme Court dismissed pretrial detention appeal as moot after Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder
•Grayson was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonja Massey during a domestic disturbance call
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Affirms Child Sexual Assault Conviction

The Illinois Supreme Court upheld Sidney Butler's 21-year sentence for sexually assaulting his half-sister, ruling that the victim's video-recorded statements were properly admitted as evidence despite challenges to her testimony.

•Illinois Supreme Court affirmed Sidney Butler's 21-year sentence for sexually assaulting his half-sister
•Court ruled victim's video-recorded interview statements were properly admitted as evidence
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Threat Conviction Despite Jury Instructions

The Illinois Supreme Court affirmed Isaiah Williams' conviction for threatening a public official during his arrest by a Kendall County sheriff's deputy. Williams argued that conflicting jury instructions misled the jury about legal requirements, but the court ruled the instructions were not contradictory when read together.

•Williams convicted of threatening sheriff's deputy during arrest, challenged jury instructions on appeal
•Defense argued IPI 11.49 and 11.50 conflicted on 'unique threat' requirement for prosecution
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Allows Police Officers to Recover Attorney Fees

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled unanimously that police officers who successfully challenge the discontinuation of their duty disability benefits can recover attorney fees and costs under state pension code. The decision in *Rainey v. Retirement Board of the Policemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund* establishes important precedent for officers fighting benefit denials.

•Illinois Supreme Court ruled unanimously that police officers can recover attorney fees when successfully challenging discontinued duty disability benefits
•The decision interprets section 5-228(b) of the Illinois Pension Code to authorize fee recovery in administrative review proceedings
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Trial in Absentia Admonishment Rules

The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously reversed an appellate court ruling, holding that trial courts need not explicitly warn defendants that absence from trial waives their right to confront witnesses. The decision clarifies procedural requirements for trials conducted without the defendant present.

•Illinois Supreme Court unanimously ruled that trial courts need not explicitly warn defendants that absence waives confrontation rights
•The decision reverses an appellate court ruling that had found trial court admonishments insufficient
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Rules Trial Warning Sufficient for Absent Defendant

The Illinois Supreme Court reversed an appellate decision in *People v. Hietschold*, ruling that a trial court adequately warned a defendant about the consequences of failing to appear for trial. The court held that telling a defendant he could be tried, convicted, and sentenced in his absence was sufficient, even without explicitly mentioning the waiver of confrontation rights.

•Illinois Supreme Court reversed appellate ruling that found trial court's admonishment inadequate for absent defendant trial
•Defendant David Hietschold was convicted in absentia on felony aggravated battery charges and sentenced to 42 months' imprisonment
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Child Abuse Conviction Despite Limited Testimony

The Illinois Supreme Court affirmed Sidney Butler's sexual abuse conviction, ruling that his sister's limited courtroom testimony satisfied constitutional confrontation requirements even though she claimed not to remember the abuse detailed in a forensic video interview.

•Butler was convicted of sexually abusing his younger sister over four years when she was ages 4-8
•The victim provided biographical information in court but claimed not to remember abuse details from her forensic interview
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State Court
•5 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Jury Instructions in Threat Case

The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the use of standard pattern jury instructions in a criminal case involving threats against a public official. The November 2025 decision in *People v. Williams* resolved questions about proper jury instruction procedures for threatening public official charges under Illinois law.

•Illinois Supreme Court unanimously upheld trial court's use of Pattern Jury Instructions 11.49 and 11.50 for threatening public official charges
•Case involved defendant Isaiah J. Williams who was convicted after threatening Deputy Nicholas Albarran during arrest and transport
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